5 Ways To Keep Your Boiler Room Organised

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A lot of businesses and commercial properties rely on steam boilers for so many reasons. Some for heat, while some as the backbone for their operation. If steam boilers play an important role in your business, the chances are you have a boiler room specifically dedicated to your machinery.
Boiler rooms aren’t just rooms. They are necessary to ensure and promote safety on the property where it is located. A lot of safety measures and precautions should be implemented and followed in a boiler room. One single, careless mistake can lead to big and serious problems that might harm not only the boiler but everyone’s safety on the property.
To prevent any mishaps from happening in your steam boiler room, here are ways that you can do to keep the room organised.
1. Don’t turn it into a stock room – remove unnecessary stuff that is not related to the steam boiler
One thing that all boiler rooms have in common is that it often becomes the new all-purpose storage area of a property. At first, maybe you are eager to keep the room just for the steam boiler. But, as time passes by, you tend to stock and pile things that aren’t necessary because it’s the perfect space to hide all your extra things.
It’s quite easy to think that steam boilers aren’t dangerous. Yes, they are not, if taken care of properly. But, a lot of things can trigger the boiler to operate wrong as well. One thing that boiler owners should keep in mind is that steam boilers are inflammable.
Your steam boiler should have enough room for air circulation. Lack of proper air circulation could trigger the boiler to produce carbon monoxide, which is dangerous. In that sense, it’s important to remove any flammable things from the boiler room. Also, it’s best to practice removing unnecessary stuff that isn’t boiler-related at all times.
2. Put caution and warning signs outside and inside the boiler room
To ensure that no unnecessary stuff goes in the boiler room, you can start by putting up caution and warning signs. Technically, this should be mandated. But, if you are a small business that is just starting, we understand if you haven’t made one yet for your boiler room.
We cannot expect everyone to be cautious and to know how dangerous steam boilers are. Most especially, if it’s their first time encountering one. To ensure that nobody will be careless in the boiler room, it’s a must to put up caution signs. Also, putting up a short list of ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ will help you and your employees to keep the boiler room a safe space as much as possible.
You can buy warning signs online or have one printed and laminated. Also, make a list that is easy to read so that it can be adhered to at all times.
3. Have the steam boiler and the room regularly cleaned
Whether you have a fire tube boiler or a water tube boiler, it is important to have the machinery cleaned regularly. If you own a fire tube boiler, it is likely to take up a large space in your boiler room. Also, since they are huge, they are harder to clean and check daily.
If you don’t have the time to check and clean your boiler regularly, have it scheduled for one at least once a month. Also, this is a great way to keep the boiler room organised. As you have your steam boiler cleaned, take the time to organise and disinfect the room as well.
Avoid any dust and moisture from building up. Those can only trigger the boiler to build soot. Also, if you have your steam boiler cleaned regularly, you can have its condition regularly monitored as well. It will be easier for you to keep an eye on your water and gas levels.
This will help you maintain the condition of your boiler and to avoid any leakage starting from minor issues.
4. Make a boiler checklist
Aside from the precautions and ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ list, a daily boiler checklist could go a long way as well. You can create a designated checklist on how to properly start and shut down the steam boiler. Maybe you can write a brief step-by-step guide on how to handle its panels and other related equipment accordingly.
This type of checklist would be helpful to prevent the boiler from developing system problems. Also, if other workers just mindlessly shut down the boiler without following the recommended procedures by your manufacturer, its chances of developing problems can be high.
Maybe you’d like to incorporate this mandatory checklist daily before you start your business operation. That way, you are confident that the boiler has been handled and operated accordingly before you utilise it for the day.
5. Have the necessary safety equipment needed in the boiler room
Sometimes, no matter how much you follow safety precautions, things can still go wrong. With that, it’s best to be prepared in case an accident happens. Having safety gear such as gloves, goggles, coats, fire extinguishers, emergency alarms, and water in the boiler room is a must.
Also, your boiler room precautions should include where to access these safety gear once an emergency happens. If ever safety gear was used, make sure to replace it immediately. It would also be better if you wouldn’t use the gear allotted in the boiler room as much as you can. It’s best to use it only when it is needed. Add ‘check the safety gear’ to your daily checklist as well.
That way, in case an accident happens, you and your employees can protect yourselves and prevent any problems from getting worse.
Start with these simple steps and see what else you can add to ensure an organised and safe boiler room.
If you’re just about to start organising your boiler room, it’s best to start with these 5 tips. From there, add more ways that would work well with your room. Maybe your employees need other lists and instructions to follow aside from the ones I discussed above.
Whatever other things you plan to add, make sure that you prioritise everyone’s safety and the condition of your steam boiler to be at its best.
About the author:
Bianca Banda is a writer for Trilogy Boilers Australia, a veteran in specialized boiler and burner installations, servicing, engineering, industrial gas plumbing, and more.